The Lord of Spirits

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The modern world does not acknowledge but is nevertheless haunted by spirits - angels, demons and saints. Fathers Andrew Stephen Damick and Stephen De Young focus on enchantment in creation, the union of the seen and unseen as made by God and experienced by mankind throughout history.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Fr. Stephen De Young, and Ancient Faith Ministries


    • May 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 2h 32m AVG DURATION
    • 300 EPISODES

    4.9 from 1,194 ratings Listeners of The Lord of Spirits that love the show mention: damick, deyoung, kevin zalac, heiser, protestants, stephen's, archaeology, orthodox, fr, priests, old testament, ignored, fathers, dad jokes, worth every minute, fyi, scriptures, ancient, spiritually, traditional.


    Ivy Insights

    The Lord of Spirits podcast is a remarkable Christian podcast that offers a fresh perspective on the Bible and helps listeners gain a deeper understanding of its teachings. As a German Catholic and historical religious sociologist, I can confidently say that this podcast stands out as one of the best resources for Christians seeking to delve into the depths of scripture.

    One of the greatest aspects of The Lord of Spirits podcast is how it introduces listeners to a whole new world that aids in comprehending the Bible. By exploring premodern categories and systems of thought, hosts Fathers Andrew and Stephen critique the pitfalls of evangelicalism's capitulation to post-Enlightenment philosophy. They offer an alternative to the dichotomy between arid evangelical intellectualism and vapid charismatic fanaticism, providing valuable insights that challenge traditional interpretations.

    The podcast strikes an excellent balance between being informative and accessible. It delves into biblical and patristic thought with deep scholarship, shedding light on ancient Near East culture, languages, Second Temple Judaism, symbolism, archaeology, and more. While sometimes light-hearted in their banter, Fathers Andrew and Stephen always offer thoughtful analysis and pastoral guidance in their summations at the end of each episode. This combination makes for an enjoyable learning experience.

    On the downside, some may find themselves frustrated by occasional tangents or lengthy build-ups before getting into the main topic. These distractions can detract from the otherwise compelling content discussed throughout each episode. However, considering how much one can learn from this podcast about spiritual warfare, theology in the unseen realm, human psychology through scripture, and forgotten or ignored aspects of church history and tradition, these minor drawbacks are worth enduring.

    In conclusion, The Lord of Spirits podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the Bible within its historical context. Whether you are Protestant or Catholic like myself, this podcast offers profound insights that transcend denominational boundaries. With its blend of deep knowledge combined with love for ancient scriptures, this podcast truly showcases the best of Orthodox tradition. I highly recommend it to all Christians seeking a richer exploration of their faith.



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    Latest episodes from The Lord of Spirits

    Hasmonean? Nah, I'm Broke

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025


    Were there really 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew? Is there a sudden disjunction starting with the New Testament? In this final episode of the History of Israel series, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at the Second Temple Jewish period.

    Kingdoms of Israel: Reckoning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025


    Continuing their series on the Biblical history of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew chart the progress from after the Exodus up to the Second Temple Period. (Get excited about giants.)

    I Will Make a Distinction

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025


    In this first episode concerning the story of Israel, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew take us from Abraham to the Exodus.

    Every Stick of Wood in the Old Testament

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025


    Is the Cross just what the Romans happened to use to kill Jesus? Or is there something deeper and older that culminates in the crucifixion of Christ? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew for a thorough look at the Cross in the Old Testament.

    Apocalypse of Abraham and Atonement Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025


    Ever read the Bogomil Bible? If not, you might still be interested in the place of Azazel in apocrypha. Continuing their series on Second Temple Jewish texts, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew read the Apocalypse of Abraham.

    apocalypse atonement azazel second temple jewish
    Pantheon and Pandemonium XV: Live Q&A March 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025


    It's another no-holds-barred live Q&A with the Podfathers! Got a dragon on your mind, a giant in your closet, or a screech owl in your filing cabinet? This is your moment, scorpion-stompers! Give us a call.

    Your Skin Makes Me Cry

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025


    Angels are active in the world. What does that activity actually look like? Is it just “benevolent haunting”? What about guardian angels? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen as they also look at what all this means for human destiny.

    Who is Your Demon and What Does He Do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025


    Is your house haunted? Do demons still possess people? Can we see the activity of demons in the modern world? How would we recognize it? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew as they uncover the darkest of all conspiracies.

    Purifications of the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025


    What exactly is ritual impurity? Does it equal sinfulness? How do bodily functions figure in? Did the New Testament abolish the ritual impurity traditions of the Old Testament? And does it have any meaning today?

    Is Progress Even a Thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025


    It's another metaphysical head-scratcher! Following up on some episodes from 2024, the podcast looks at what change actually means (if anything?) and what bearing that has on teleology.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIV: Asynchronous Q&A Dec 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024


    The Podfathers clear out the voicemail backlogs with this pre-recorded end-of-year episode, covering everything from whether Eglon was fat or handsome to if the Orthodox believe in a kind of Calvinism to the unsettling logismoi of Wham! at Christmastime.

    When God Became Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024


    At the heart of Christian faith and life is the incarnation of the Son of God. When does that happen, exactly? It seems easy enough to answer, but a close look at Scripture yields a more complex picture.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XIII: Asynchronous Q&A Nov 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024


    In this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to your voicemail, ranging from whether Jesus could get a speeding ticket to why some canonical texts don't actually get read in church. And Fr. Andrew tries to nail down Fr. Stephen's notorious Nietzsche talk.

    Israel, I Choose You!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024


    It's Election Day on Lord of Spirits! Who is elected? What are they elected to? How is Israel involved in all this?

    Fiend Folio

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024


    What if Guardian Angels had an exact opposite—Guardian Devils? Are some of those demons actually the evil dead? Or what about the ones who come for you while you're asleep?

    guardian angels fiend folio
    Modernism 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024


    "Modernism” is anything bad and not Orthodox, right? Or maybe 20th century? It's said the Church has to confront the modern world or finally enter it, but what does that mean? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew as they look at this most unhistorical of historical phenomena.

    Mutatis Mutandis (100th Episode!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024


    Orthodox Christianity is said to be "unchanging." The Synodikon even says it's the faith that established the universe. Yet if you look at Christian worship centuries ago, it's not exactly the same as Orthodox worship now. And we don't see it in Gen. 1. So what's going on?

    Bible, the Prequel?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024


    What does evidence from the Neolithic period tell us about truly ancient religion? How does that fit into the Bible? How should Christians understand this prehistorical part of the human story?

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XII: Live Q&A Aug 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024


    The whole episode is dedicated to live calls! Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew want to talk to you about whatever is on your mind. Give them a ring at 855-237-2346.

    Some Body

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024


    In the age to come, all of humanity will be raised from the dead -- bodily. This core dogma of Christianity, the bodily resurrection, is often misunderstood or even ignored. Yet what does it mean that all will be raised? Will the human body be changed? Join us and find out.

    Time, See What's Become of Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024


    Our understanding of time forms the basis of many theological assumptions. But how does it work in the Scriptures and throughout Christian tradition? Is it truly linear? Are "before" and "after" always real? Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at the hazy shades of time.

    Swords and Sorcery (Mostly Sorcery)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024


    Is there magic in the Bible? What about outside the Bible? How does magic differ from miracles? Is it even real? Join the Podfathers as they look at the phenomenon of sorcery.

    Swords and Sorcery (Mostly Sorcery)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024


    Is there magic in the Bible? What about outside the Bible? How does magic differ from miracles? Is it even real? Join the Podfathers as they look at the phenomenon of sorcery.

    The Devil(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024


    Christian tradition refers to “the devil” or “the evil one,” but is this one being? What about (the) Satan -- or Samael, Mastema, and Azazel? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen as they have a look at the wickedest of the wicked. *PRE-RECORDED EPISODE*

    The Devil(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024


    Christian tradition refers to “the devil” or “the evil one,” but is this one being? What about (the) Satan -- or Samael, Mastema, and Azazel? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen as they have a look at the wickedest of the wicked. *PRE-RECORDED EPISODE*

    The Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024


    Continuing their series on Second Temple Jewish apocrypha in this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew read two texts about the apocalyptic visions of prophets -- the Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses.

    ascension assumption second temple jewish
    The Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024


    Continuing their series on Second Temple Jewish apocrypha in this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew read two texts about the apocalyptic visions of prophets -- the Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses.

    ascension assumption second temple jewish
    The Book of Jubilees

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024


    What if you could see the unseen spiritual reality in Genesis? How did the world into which Jesus was born understand this story? Explore the ancient Book of Jubilees in this next in the Apocrypha series with Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

    The Book of Jubilees

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024


    What if you could see the unseen spiritual reality in Genesis? How did the world into which Jesus was born understand this story? Explore the ancient Book of Jubilees in this next in the Apocrypha series with Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

    Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024


    What might the 12 sons of Jacob have said before they died? Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew begin a new series on Second Temple Judaism literature, an exploration of religion in the time and place of the Apostles.

    Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024


    What might the 12 sons of Jacob have said before they died? Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew begin a new series on Second Temple Judaism literature, an exploration of religion in the time and place of the Apostles.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XI: Asynchronous Q&A April 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024


    In this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to some of many voicemails, covering the falls of angels, the bones of Elisha, David Bowie, ethno-nationalist tchotchkes, Psalm 82/81, Theophany, the Book of Enoch, prayer against blacksmiths, and more.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium XI: Asynchronous Q&A April 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024


    In this pre-recorded episode, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew respond to some of many voicemails, covering the falls of angels, the bones of Elisha, David Bowie, ethno-nationalist tchotchkes, Psalm 82/81, Theophany, the Book of Enoch, prayer against blacksmiths, and more.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium X : Live Q & A April 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024


    The last several episodes have generated a lot of questions, so Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen are dedicating this episode fully to taking live questions. So it's time to remember that your phone actually makes phone calls! Give them a ring at 855-237-2346.

    Pantheon and Pandemonium X: Live Q&A April 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024


    The last several episodes have generated a lot of questions, so Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen are dedicating this episode fully to taking live questions. So it's time to remember that your phone actually makes phone calls! Give them a ring at 855-237-2346.

    Torah 2: Back in the Habit

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024


    Continuing their examination of the Torah and its place in the Christian Church, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at Torah themes of worship, uncleanness, and the death penalties.

    Torah 2: Back in the Habit

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024


    Continuing their examination of the Torah and its place in the Christian Church, Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew look at Torah themes of worship, uncleanness, and the death penalties.

    Torah! Torah! Torah!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024


    Christ said that He did not come to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17), but a lot of Christians seem to think He came to abolish it. All that Old Testament stuff is over. But is that the real relationship of the OT to the NT? Tune in and find out.

    Torah! Torah! Torah!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024


    Christ said that He did not come to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17), but a lot of Christians seem to think He came to abolish it. All that Old Testament stuff is over. But is that the real relationship of the OT to the NT? Tune in and find out.

    The Season of Virtue

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024


    People often say "Lent is not in the Bible," claiming that it's a medieval invention, and the traditionally elevated prayer and fasting of Lent are dismissed as "earning your way to heaven." Is that true, though? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen to find out.

    The Season of Virtue

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024


    People often say "Lent is not in the Bible," claiming that it's a medieval invention, and the traditionally elevated prayer and fasting of Lent are dismissed as "earning your way to heaven." Is that true, though? Join Fr. Andrew and Fr. Stephen to find out.

    You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 150:35


    What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? What were the apostles saying when they said that, identifying Him as the Christ? Find out the weight behind their words with Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

    You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024


    What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? What were the apostles saying when they said that, identifying Him as the Christ? Find out the weight behind their words with Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

    You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024


    What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? What were the apostles saying when they said that, identifying Him as the Christ? Find out the weight behind their words with Fr. Stephen De Young and Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick.

    God is So Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 165:20


    What's Good? What does it mean that God is good? Are good and right the same thing? Are bad and evil the same thing? Does bad still mean good, like in the '80s?

    God is So Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024


    What's Good? What does it mean that God is good? Are good and right the same thing? Are bad and evil the same thing? Does bad still mean good, like in the '80s?

    God is So Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024


    What's Good? What does it mean that God is good? Are good and right the same thing? Are bad and evil the same thing? Does bad still mean good, like in the '80s?

    Waiter, There's Gods in the Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 168:27


    In the great feast of Theophany, Christ is baptized by the Forerunner in the Jordan river. What is the cosmic spiritual reality of what's happening there? What is going on in Theophany icons? And how does this affect Christianity? Find out with Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew.

    Waiter, There's Gods in the Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024


    In the great feast of Theophany, Christ is baptized by the Forerunner in the Jordan river. What is the cosmic spiritual reality of what's happening there? What is going on in Theophany icons? And how does this affect Christianity? Find out with Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew.

    Waiter, There's Gods in the Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024


    In the great feast of Theophany, Christ is baptized by the Forerunner in the Jordan river. What is the cosmic spiritual reality of what's happening there? What is going on in Theophany icons? And how does this affect Christianity? Find out with Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew.

    The Saints Will Judge the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 193:21


    What does it mean for a Christian to have a patron saint? For a church? For a nation? What is the Biblical basis for this practice? Join Fr. Stephen and Fr. Andrew for a look into this spiritual relationship.

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